The partners of Parallel Wines – ski buddies for the past twenty years – are excited to introduce their new wine, just in time for the height of the ski season and the Olympics. Fine wine and skiing have always been a great match for après ski. That dynamic combination has truly come to life with the launch of Parallel Wines (www.parallelwines.com). Named for the parallels between the wine and the ski worlds and the classic dual lines cut by skis on the first run of the day, Parallel Wine is a new Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with a distinctive ski track design on its label. Crafted by top winemaker Philippe Melka, recently named the 2005 Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine magazine, in collaboration with highly acclaimed vineyard manager, Jim Barbour, Parallel Wine was conceived by a eight close friends from Park City. “We all met skiing twenty years ago and have shared many glasses of wine, so it’s fitting that Parallel Wines celebrate what brought us together,” shares Mac MacQuoid, one of the Parallel Wine partners. “People who love skiing love a great glass of wine. After a special day on the slopes, we want friends to gather around a fire and enjoy a glass of Parallel while they cheer on the USA in Torino.” The premiere release of the wine, Parallel 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. is a blend of grapes from Howell Mountain and Calistoga in Napa Valley. It’s priced at $44 per 750 ml bottle, marking it the first time that Melka and Barbour – generally known for their higher priced offerings - have collaborated on a wine that is both affordable and available to the general public. It is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot and is a wine with deep color that exhibits a beautiful bouquet of black currants, blackberries, dried herbs, smoke, vanilla and Asian spices. The mouthfeel is generous and packed with ripe flavors of rich cherry jam and black fruits. It finishes with dense tannins, and a wonderful licorice character. According to Melka, “This wine is distinctive and reflects a sense of harmony and sophistication.” The first release of Parallel is currently sold in ski area wine shops and restaurants in the Intermountain West and in California and New Jersey/New York. It is available online for shipment where legal at www.parallelwines.com. For more information on Parallel, visit www.parallelwines.com. Editors contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at (415) 701 9463 or kcharles@charlescomm.com. Photos are available upon request. # # #

  Forward Thinking with “LoCA Thoughts” The Lodi Winegrape Commission’s “LoCA Thoughts” web videos aim to educate and entertain curious wine lovers   Lodi, CA – ‘Here’s a LoCA thought!’ has become a familiar catch phrase in Lodi, California and beyond, thanks to the Lodi Winegrape Commission’s popular video series, “LoCA Thoughts”. The web series features charismatic local wine grower Ben Kolber, who playfully demystifies wine while providing wine lovers with creative pairings and fun, down-to-earth solutions to some of the most common wine-related questions. The series speaks to the diversity of the grape varieties in Lodi’s wine region as well as the varied preferences of its consumers’ palates.   Kolber tells viewers to trust their instincts when tasting and purchasing wine, and not to be too influenced or intimidated by more practiced wine aficionados. “Even experts make mistakes now and again,” says Kolber. “So here’s a ‘LoCA thought’ - see what pleases your palate, not somebody else’s.”   Kolber’s disarming persona illustrates the Lodi region’s mission to educate budding wine enthusiasts in an entertaining and engaging way. The clips are easy to digest for busy oenophiles and casual consumers alike, spanning from 30 seconds to one minute. Recent videos include paella pairings, perfect wines for tailgating aka “wine gating,” and a lesson on how to distinguish aromas and flavors in a wine.   Kolber is the owner of KG Vineyard Management, which is Certified Green under the Lodi Rules™ for Sustainable Winegrowing - California’s first 3rd party-certified sustainable winegrowing program. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Kolber is an avid musician and a busy father to three young children.   “LoCA Thoughts” videos can be viewed at http://www.lodiwine.com/locathoughts/.   About Lodi Wine Country   Located south of Sacramento and west of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, the Lodi wine region features over 100,000 acres of vineyards that thrive in the classic Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool evenings. With more than 75 varieties currently being cultivated, Lodi offers a diverse portfolio of wines. While long known as a superior producer of Zinfandel, including an estimated 2,000 acres of pre-Prohibition own rooted vines, the area also produces award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Chardonnay. More recently, Lodi has begun producing varietals such as Albariño, Tempranillo, Graciano and Vermentino, among many others. Lodi has been a major winegrape growing region since the 1850’s, and today is farmed by over 750 growers. The region also serves as home to more than 80 boutique wineries specializing in small-lot, handmade wines that have garnered major awards at domestic and international wine competitions.  In addition, Lodi is one of the leading wine regions in sustainable viticulture. The Lodi Winegrape Commission created Lodi Rules™, California’s first third-party-certified sustainable winegrowing program, which implements green-farming practices. For more information about the Lodi wine region, please visit www.lodiwine.com. For media inquiries and interviews, please contact Alexandra Fondren at Charles Communications Associates at 415|701-9463 or press@charlescomm.com. For additional information regarding the Lodi Winegrape Commission, please contact Executive Director, Camron King, at 209|327-4727 or camron@lodiwine.com.   ###